I haven't but I'd really like to - there is a dentist clinic in my area that uses a 3D printer to make false teeth so I'm going to check it out soon. Cheers and happy weekend!
Hello Nanoose I did not hang out to see the printer work, but I did see how the item I needed was scanned. I needed a tail light bezel for an old car I was restoring, couldn't find one that was better than the one I had, a friend suggested I have it printed. It took hours for it to be printed, but it was a perfect fit...once the part was chromed, you couldn't tell the difference..
Bet the 3D piece would be way cheaper then buying one from a custom car shop. Does having a 3D piece effect being able to say the car is original? Cheers and happy weekend!
Hey there Nanoose It was about 100 bucks to have the part printed, pretty good considering I couldn't find a decent replacement part. As far as the car keeping it's originality, this car was a driver and not a highly valuable collector, so it's originality wasn't really an issue, also considering that the drivetrain wasn't original to the car anyway. I would think it may have an impact on the value of a very rare car that may otherwise be complete, but those cars are out of my price range and I don't really want a "trailer Queen", I like to drive the cars I have had... The car was an old MG.... And a happy weekend to you as well
I'm an idiot, I know, but something about 3D printers strikes me as wrong. Somehow, there's just something that approaches being, what I guess I might call, immoral.
I know how I sound.
I've also been quite ill for a couple of weeks now. Blame it on that. :)
What do you by "slow"? They are like any computer-controlled manufacturing machine or process: they run at the optimum speed for the process, material and work-piece design.
Discounting programming and setting-up times, the 3D printer is far faster than most other methods for complex shapes within the printer's material and size limits.
I have also seen the "opposite" in action - the CNC milling-machine and lathe; creating the work-piece by removing rather than adding material, and at formidable rates; in materials the 3D printer cannot handle, at least not yet.
[Edited to correct error.]
This post was edited by Durdle at April 27, 2019 3:11 PM MDT